Simulated baseball box score game



Aug. 31', 1948. G..E.'NOEL SIMULATED BASE BALL BOX SCORE GAME Filed Oct. 1, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BLUE 6 m w m w M m 9 L HT! FILHMERI BOX scores: Recon r ws 7 INVENTOR. 6w E. N054.

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G. E. NOEL SIMULATED BASE BALL BOX SCORE GAME Aug. 31,1948.

2 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1945 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 3 1 1948 g SIMULA TED'B ASE BALL BOX SbRE GAME v Guyf E- ijfioeliflunciei ind assignorltoiNoel.Mann

- l ac u n v .1 c This invention relates to a simulated baseball 1 fThe'chief objectof this-inventioniistoprovide all game simulating baseball and approximating leagueipla in that several interclub games are i played simultaneously and progressivelyand' with differently I -leg'ende'd indicators 7 selected by chance, suchiindicators herein c'onveni'ently comprising differently colored balls' of a 'suitable di ameter, each color having a definite value.-

Theichief feature of the presentfinventionsresides in supplying to pairedi'columns in-succes'sion a chance a selected indicator, 7 play progressing across the board. for all team's, inning by inning,

successive indicators in Ieach column.indicatin successive scores' in successive innings: for-the team represented v by thalt colum'n. i

Another featur'eaof the invention resides in the column feeding device whereby successive columns. are progressively supplied withnindicabars, the feeding devicecbeingcontinuously operable,v although stoppable' atawill l and beingyarranged upon completion of .one'inningeforall teams columns) I to immediately supply the indicator for' the first team! (column) -forl thesu'cceedingLinning. .v j t, v

A further feature of the invention-resides' inthe indicator. mixing orl jumbling 'means and its association andsimultaneous operation withthe feeding 'device[ 1., c in i,

.-.Il I A still further ifeatu-reof .the invention' resides in the column cIearingmeansV- r gi l Other objects and featuresof the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.--

- llhe full, natureof the invention will belunderstood from the accompanying drawingsand: the

'feding Wheel; the top of a com me ed'thjergb and the f eeding throat between the hopp er and Big. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view-of the column clearing portion of the invention} Beginning with the present century, although notto such a great extentduringthe past rew Co pany, M cie:lndmaiqopar n re were byinning scores from the several playing fields have been' forwarded'by telegraph throughout the cbufitry- A's these'repcrts have been received, a scorer has indicated in the proper inning space ona scoreshe'et theflt'ota'l runs'so scored in that inning by the {several teams in the two major leagues-arid usually the minor league in which the particular community may be represented by seball-te'am. r

Various baseball simulating games have been devises for two formers players and these invarany employ diceiforlspaceadvanceon a diamond path accordancewith the throw {011. similar rneznbersihaving'; designationss as first base o'ra one base hit,three basejhit;fqut ,,,error etc th d m ,t en o er i ihe j r b s tions, .5; 1' I f Suchj game obviously closely simulates .the game'lo'f bashall and depends to "a considerable degree upon thijskillofithe. player, that is, in throwing'thediceortwirling thexarrow. on a variously numbered card. Furthermore; .such a game does 'Iiot 'readi'lylend itself to simultaneous play'bygmanyjplayerathat is fOur is about the greatest; number that can "conveniently play sim'ultaneously'and maintain interest. I

The present- "invention 'hasltwo' advantages, first, since it visia game, chance is-s'ubstituted for player 'skillfa'zid second; any number; within the capacity or the-device,' may play the game, that illustrated herein, permitting simultaneous play by; sixteen; 16 persons, one complete cycle or game for sixteen players (teams) and for nine innings requiring but fifteento twenty minutes to play-withno 1055;.9finterest at any time-until the last inning of the lastteam game isplayed. I

Not only can the host award amaster prize to the guest whose team accumulates the greatest total-score, but also minor prizes to the guests Whosetteam, inning by inning, scores the highest, as well as supplementary, prizes tothe guests whose teams are paired, iwhichprize may be given for thehighest score of the twoteamsiso paired or thealowestv score thereof. Also other prizesmay be. giy'eniforuthe greatestdifference between scores either; inning by inning I)!" for the entire. game.

: dgbyiouslyxsuch a :game retains the interest of all lplayers," as stated; until the-final inning is played. and all players; since'skill' is not required io'npl'aying, having an equal'chance' :1.

' In Figs. Land 3 of the drawings l0 indicates a base frame and same by means, of hook'bolts'vl-l detachabl y supports a suitably-lined-and legended yearswiththeuniversaluse of'the radio,---inning t5 blackboard 12 through eyes 13; NOrmallya box score is laid out with the names of the playing teams superposed and the successive inning progressing from left to right.

Herein the innings are arranged with the earliest at the bottom and the last at the top and the teams are arranged from left to right, all as illustrated more fully in Fig. 2. Such a scoreboard may be of blackboard type and the host may enter the individual scores, inning by inning, as the game progresses. Each player also may be supplied with a personal score card for similar entry, thus further simulating a baseballgame.

The housing l4 carried by base includes a readily removable back I5, a frontglasscover ed front mask 21 having the aperture 22 therein.

Behind the glass l6 and exposed thereby are the vertical column forming portions 23 and same with back plate 24 form open front columns, the bottoms of which are all closed by plate 25.: This plate lies in close proximity to the lower edge of opening 22 and is slidablysupported on rails 26 carried by the ends I! and I8. 1 I

At each, end the column closing and indicator release plate carries on its upper face the rack 21 and thereabove is shaft 28 which carriespinions 29 meshing with racks 21.. Shaft 28 projects beyond end 11, is rotatably supported by both ends, and carries hand wheel 30. When the hand Wheel is rotated counterclockwise, the plate 25 is retracted and all indicators inthe columns can flow therethrough by gravity and escape therefrom. When the wheel is rotated clockwise, the

plate is projected forwardly and the columns are I closed at the lower ends. v Beneath closure plate 25 is a downwardly and rearwardly inclined plate 3|, see Figs. 3 and 5, whichalso is pitched from end 18 toend I], see Fig. 3, and has associated therewith guide 32 at theformer end. End 11, see Fig. 3, is apertured at 33 and seatable therein and closing same is a scoop-like means 34 having exposed knob ,35. Indicators released by platef25 accordingly are guided by the aforesaid to the scoop and are removable from the device for subsequentplay by removing the scoop with the indicators therein,

Top 29 includes aperture 36 closed by cap- 31 having knob 38. Within the housing and in the upper end thereof and beneath aperture 36 is a hopper having front and rear walls 39 and 40, end walls 4| and inwardly directed bottom walls and 43; the latter terminate in spacedparallel walls 44 and 45 respectively. t

Indicators collected by the scoop may be supplied to this hopper-through aperture 36 when the cap 31 is removed. Associated with this hopper is a guide chute having front and rear walls 46 and 41 and end walls 48. The chute is supported-by brackets 49 carried by the rails:50 and .carried by cover depending supports 5| adjacent ends I! and I8 respectively.

The indicators herein are shown as balls B of a diameter slightly less than the distance between the chute-portions 46-47. Same has a horizontal common discharge- Herein the previously described hopper is pivoted medianly as at 52 upon chute walls 46 and 41. The hopperat one end, and herein adjacent housing end I8 includes a bracket. 53 that projects through slot .54. insupport 51 andterminates in a ball and socket joint 54a for connection to a similar joint .55 carried by arm 55 and by adjustable length rod 51-. Herein arm 56 is pinned to shaft 58 rotatably supported in depending support 5|. Shaft 58 mounts umns.

pinion 59 meshing with driving gear 60 to which reference will be had hereinafter.

As gear 60 rotates, crank arm 56 is rotated to raise and lower ball and socket joint 5411. Thus the hopper is tilted on pivots 52 while said gear 60 rotates. This insures scrambling, mixing or jumbling of all the balls B so that skill in the playing of the game is totally eliminated.

Beneath the throat of the stationary chute is a drum which includes shaft 6| rotatably supported in the lower ends of depending supports 50 and 51. The end of shaft BI adjacent end 18 extends beyond support 5| and carries gear 60 aforesaid Thus the drum is rotated and the hopper oscillated in timed relation. In the latter action the balls B above the hopper throat roll from one end ofthe hopper to the opposite end and vice versa, thus securing a complete mixing of the balls.----' On the end of shaft 61, see Fig. 3, that projects beyond support 50 and toward housing end. I! is secured a bevel gear 62 meshing with bevel pinion 63 on shaft 64 rotatably supported in .the U- shaped bracket 65 carried by housing end ll. Within the bracket and on the shaft 64is secured bevel gear 65 meshing with bevelpinionfi'l on shaft 68 of motor 69 carried by bracket 65. On the end I! of the housing is mounted a snap on and off switch 10.

When the switch is closed, the drum is continuously rotated and the hopper-is oscillated. and such actions continue at. the will of the operator. Moving the switch to ofi position. stops thedevice. Then the indicator release gate is opened,

the indicators collected and redeposited in the hopper as described, and another game; can .be played. Obviously the device ,canbe stopped at any time, as at the end of each inning, when so desired. v Reference willnow be had more. particularly to the feeding drum carried by shaft 6| andinterposed between the throat of the chute and the top or open upper ends of the several col- :Basically, this drum= 8|) hasa spirally arranged series of. pockets 8| therein one-for each column or channel and of a width corresponding thereto.

Each pocket 8| has a depth at least equal to diameter of .ball indicators B. As shown in Fig. 3, the chute throat exposed balls B ride the drum periphery until-such time as a pocket 8i registers with the throat. Thereupon the indicator drops by gravity into the registeringpocket. and

another indicatorreplaces that dropped. A cover 82 maybe provided, see Fig. 4, although as illustrated, same is unnecessary, for thedrum axisis offset relative to the, channel mouthsandchute throat, or between the same so that, forcounterclockwise rotation, noball retainer is required.

When rotation in the opposite direction. is preferred, however, such ball retaining drum Cover greater diameter and just clearing the lower edge of the chute throatand upper edges of th channel mouths, The several discs 83, each with a notch 84 therein, are secured inprogressively offset relation with discs 83 therebetween. Various locking connections may be utilized between the disc and the shaft. For example, the side faces of the pocket discs may be radially serrated and the circular disc complementarily serrated. The circular disc may be toothed for shaft locking in grooves therein. This permits annular offsetting of successive discs 83 and shaft driving thereof through the circular discs.

It will be equally obvious that as the drum is rotated each pocket 8|, upon registration with the throat, receives an indicator, carries it around to the corresponding channel mouth, whereupon it drops by gravity into that channel and to the bottom thereof on plate 25 .or on a previously deposited indicator. As soon as one horizontal row has been filled, a ball at the opposite'end of the drum is dropped so that a second row is dropped, etc.

In this connection it is to be observed that balls may be numbered as in rotation pool or may be differently colored. When colored, the .value designation will always be Visible through glass [6. For example, blue may indicate a value of six, black a value of five, red a value of four, purple a value of three, green a value of two, yellow a value of one, and white a zero value.

Obviously anywhere from; 144 Or more balls for sixteen or more teams f-or nine innings will be required, Approximately two hundred balls will fill all columns, and what might be termed the filled pockets of the drum, and the throat to a depth of three to four balls so that loading of the chute by selected balls is impossible.

It is equally obvious that the various colored balls will vary in number, such as for two hundred balls, seventy-five may be white, forty-five yellow, thirty green, twenty purple, fifteen red, ten black and five blue.

If these two hundred balls be used and so colored, the largest grand total of runs possible is 305 and the minimum is 93. The possibility of obtaining either total or one very close thereto is quite remote. The largest possible individual team score is 50 and the probability of obtaining that is utterly fanciful for it means all the blue balls and two-fifths of the black balls must drop into any one channel for these nine balls only produce that score. The lowest possible team score is obviously zero and surprisingly enough, it is difficult to attain.

Variations of the combinations, permutations, scores, etc. may be utilized for prize winning purposes at the host's election, and if couples are playing, same may be paired, thus extending the range of the game as desired by the host.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a game device having a plurality of side by side elongated upwardly directed channel-like compartments open at opposite ends and means normally closing the lower ends thereof, the combination therewith of an elongated cylindrical structure of a length at least as great as the summation width of said compartments and provided with a helical series of pockets upon its pea riphery, means for rotating said structure for operatively registering the pockets with successive compartmentsfor releasing indicators thereto, and hopper means coextensive with and superposed relative to the cylindrical structure for gravity supply of indicators to the pockets for subsequent individual release to the compartments, the hopper means being common to ,all pockets, the hopper means comprising a pivoted hopper having: a depending discharge portion and a relatively stationary tubular member telescopically associated with the latter portion, the lower end of the'tubular member opening upon cylindrical structure periphery for indicator supply to the pockets thereof when the pockets are successively registered with saidtubular member lower end, and means for rocking said hopper on its pivot for mixing of the indicators therein.

2. A game device as defined by claim 1 wherein the hopper rocking means is operable by the said rotating means.

3. A game device as defined by claim 2 wherein the helical series of pockets of the cylindrical structurebein'g of single series tyD whereby one rotation thereof, one seriesiof indicators will be supplied to all compartments.

4. A game device as defined'by claim 3 wherein the cylindrical structure rotating means is of a continuously operable type for continuous multiple rotation of that structure for repetitious intermittent supply of indicators to the same compartment.

5. In a game device having a plurality of side by side elongated upwardly directed channel-like compartments open at opposite ends and means normally closing the lower ends thereof, the combination therewith of an elongated cylindrical structure of a length at least as great as the summation width of said compartments and provided with a helical series of pockets upon its periphery, means for rotating said structure for operatively registering the pockets with successive compartments for releasing indicators thereto, and hopper means coextensive with and superposed relative to the cylindrical structure for gravity supply of indicators to the pockets for subsequent individual release to the compartments, the hopper means being common to all pockets. the hopper means comprising a pivoted hopper having a depending discharge portion and a relatively stationary tubular member telescopically associated with the latter portion, the lower end of the tubular member opening upon cylindrical structure periphery for indicator supply to the pockets thereof when the pockets are successively registered with said tubular member lower end, and means for rocking said hopper on its pivot for mixing of the indicators therein, the helical series of pockets of the cylindrical structure being of single series type whereby for one rotation thereof, one series of indicators will be supplied to all compartments.

6. In a game device having a plurality of side by side elongated upwardly directed channel-like compartments open at opposite ends and means normally closing the lower ends thereof, the combination therewith of an elongated cylindrical structure of a length at least as great as the summation width of said compartments and provided with a helical series of pockets upon its periphery, means for rotating said structure for operatively registering the pockets with successive compartments for releasing indicators thereto, and hopper means coextensive with and superans-m1 7, posed. relative to the cylindrical structure for gravity supply. of indicators to the pockets for subsequent individual release to the compartments, the hopper means being'common to all pockets, the hopper means comprising. a pivoted hopper having a: depending discharge portion and a relatively stationary tubular member telescopically associated with the latter portion, the lower end of the tubular member opening upon cylindrical structure periphery for indicatorisupply-to the: pockets thereof when the pockets aresuc cessively registeredwith said tubular-member loW- er end, and means for rocking said'hopper on its pivot for mixing of the indicators therein,the helical series oipockets of the cylindrical structure being of single series type whereby for one rotation thereof, one series of indicators wlll'be supplied to all. compartments; the cylindrical structure rotating means being of'continuously operable type for continuous multiple rotation of that structure for repetitious intermittent supply of indicators to the same compartment.'

'7. A game device having a plurality of: side by side elongated upwardly directed. channel-like compartments open at opposite ends, means'closing the lower ends of said compartments, an elongated cylinder of a length at least equal to the combined widths of all of said compartments and disposed above the latter, said cylinder'having'in its periphery a helical series of pockets, a

single chamber hopper disposed above said cylinder-andhaving'an elongated tubular discharge means, a relatively stationary tube having its lower -discharg.e end communicating with said cylinder throughout the entire length thereof, the' aidtube and tubular discharge means having a nested-relationship therebetween, thehopper beingcommon toand for indiscriminateindicat'or supply to all the pockets in said cylinder, means for mixing indicators in the'hopper, and means for rotating said cylinder for successively registering the; pockets thereof with successive compartments for releasing indicators thereto.

GUY NOEL.

BEFERENGES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of thi spat en't':

UN D S A PATE E 

